Gee, go away for awhile and look what happens to your background....

So- I just got back from the 'Official Excel Boy's Semi-Final/Final round of the Regional Tennis Tournament'.  

It was deluxe.

Then, me and Nat and Jacob drove to CFA and got some food. Then we rented Chicken Little. I think Im going to watch it now.

Okay.  Bye.

Dear Friends:

Be weary. The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion....seeking whom he may devour. He will grab a hold on anyone he can. And I mean anyone. 

When all of the ground around you begins to fall...when everything and everyone has disappointed you....there is but one hope. 2 Samuel 22:2 says, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer."

He will return for his people.

"Do not grow weary in well doing, for we shall reap a harvest if we faint not."
                -Galations 6:9

You're not alone in your struggle, Christian.

My God is so awesome. No words can describe Him.

He took care of me all my life and I didnt realize it until now...

...Thank you God for Jesus...

Happy Thanksgiving. We need to remember what today means.

Thanks- "Grateful feelings or thoughts; gratitude"

Giving- "To make a present of"

...Hmmm...Who exchanges gifts on Thanksgiving? Not my family. "To make a present of"? Lets see....what could that mean? Surely you don't put a ham in wrapping paper with a bow...."Here you go! Happy Thanksgiving!!"

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Psalms 100: A Psalm of Praise

"MAKE a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he IS God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are HIS people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

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There are gifts that need to be given on Thanksgiving-but they're not physical gifts. They're spiritual. If we offer up our thanks unto God with a sincere heart, those are the gifts that are most important. Im not talking about one big prayer before you eat...Im talking THAT plus some alone time in your room. What better time then now to get right with the Lord? He wants to hear from you.....he's waiting....The hour of his coming is drawing nearer. Don't be left sleeping in your bed the night Christ returns to get his people.

Luke 21:28

"And when these begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

2 Peter 3:10

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..."

We need to be ready. Don't just say. "Well, Im saved so...I'm going to Heaven. I just haven't surrendered my life to him...yet....But Im saved!!!"

Listen to this,  (In this passage, "hot" is used to refer to the people who are serving God with passion and a burning desire to live for him. "Cold" is used to refer to the lost/unsaved people.)  

Revelation 3:15-16

"I know your record of works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth!"

....Live your lives for God....passionately. It's all that's important. These earthly things will all pass away. We will live in either Heaven or Hell eternially! There is no in between. We need to focus on our eternal destination. Make preparations for it. Who wants to be ashamed when they stand before God at the judgement? Do things right here on Earth so when you stand before God he'll smile, take you by the hand, and lead you into his kingdom.

When you die and stand before God, you will want to have lived a life pleasing to him. You'll want to give him something he can be proud of. You'll want him to tell you the impact you had on that girl you prayed with at the hospital. You'll want to know whose life that yours changed. Who got saved 2 years later beacuse you shared the message of Christ with them at their birthday party?

I don't know about you, but I want to have treasure stored up in Heaven waiting for me when I get there. (Im not talking about jewels or gold, I'm talking about that supernatural treasure only God can give.) I want him to be proud of me. So, with God's daily help, I'm giving back to him what is his....which is everything I have.

Pray for those trying to serve God, dear friends. It's not easy to walk the straight and narrow road.....but it's worth it. ....know that I'm praying for you. I may not know what your exact situation is....but God does. Don't ever forget that.

Proverbs 18:24

..."But there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." -And that friend is Jesus Christ. 

 Whenever I find myself in despair, I think of one of the greatest men that ever lived. Paul.  It's a simple story, but its always been a favorite of mine.

(Acts 16:22-34)

    "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailor was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell, and fastened their feet in the stocks."
    "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The jailor woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped." 
**(During this time, if prisoners escaped from prison, the jailor in charge of watching them would be painfully killed. This jailor obviously thought a stab from his sword would be less painful than the horrible agonizing death that awaited him.)**
    "But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!' The jailor called for the lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' 
    "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus with all your heart and you will be saved-you and your household.' Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all the others of his house. At that hour of the night the jailor took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailor brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole family."    

Paul and Silas were locked up for preaching the gospel. But they didn't care, they stood for God in their darkest hour and he delivered them. Despite their wounds and frail condition, they still praised God because they knew God was there with them. The next day, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailor with the order to release Paul and Silas. 

God tells us in his word if we endure persecution for him, our reward will be great in Heaven. Satan wants us to become discouraged and feel like we're "over-doing it" or we're going to loose all of our friends if we stand for God.... If your friends will turn against you for doing the only thing that matters.....they were never truely your friends.

Dear friends who serve the Lord, we know persecution is coming our way. Be prepared for it. When it does come, know that God is with us. Be honored to receive that in his name. God knows the sacrifices we make for him, don't think they go unnoticed. We will reap the seeds that we have sown, and give an account for everything we have done on the day of judgement. Be ready for that day.

.....I'm still praying for you.